It’s eye candy for the Instagram enthusiast, blending 90 miles of prime Pacific coastline with an otherworldly line up of majestic sea stacks, big iron behemoths and rare rocks shaped into lunar looking bowling balls. Located just two hours north of San Francisco where the concrete fades to green, Mendocino County raises the bar when it comes to capturing that stunning post. From Rothschild Giraffes to the golden City of 10,000 Buddhas, the options are endless along California’s northern stretch of Highway 1 and inland along Mendocino’s Inspiration Highway (101).
#1 Surreal Sea Stacks – Highway 1, Mendocino
Once part of the cliffs and headlands, Mendocino’s iconic sea stacks showcase Mother Nature at her naked best. Time and turbulence have eroded these romantic wonders into a coastal cocktail of visual delight, as well as providing a home for salty shorebirds. The geological landform, which often consists of steep vertical columns jutting out of the sea, is known as geomorphology. Add a potent sunset and it’s all “likes” on deck. Key spots run from Westport south to Point Arena. www.pointarena.net
#2 Peacocks & Pagodas – City of 10,000 Buddhas, Talmage
Ready to reflect in a reflection? Just outside of Ukiah lies the City of 10,000 Buddhas, a peaceful retreat sporting peacocks, pagodas and “Vigor” and “Virtue” signposts — backed with the resonance of chanting monks. The arched entrance is a showstopper as well as the grounds, which are dotted with a variety of large art pieces honoring the essence of Buddha. Open to the public, the City of 10,000 Buddhas offers daily prayer (12:30 p.m.) in the eye-popping Jeweled Hall, complete with 10,000 golden Buddhas lining the facility from floor to ceiling; free. Stay for a tasty lunch at Jyuan Kang Vegetarian Restaurant on-site. www.cttbusa.org
#3 Lunar Landing – Bowling Ball Beach, Point Arena
As the tide pulls out, a surreal setting unfolds just south of Point Arena on scenic Highway 1. Rare and wonderful, Bowling Ball Beach has caused speculation for centuries given the mass of almost perfectly spherical stones. Hidden like the Terracotta Army, the geological phenomena known as “concretions” are rare and picture-ready, formed by a natural process of sedimentary rock binding to minerals and/or stone. These surreal stones, paired with a sizzling Mendocino sunset, finish the frame. Located at Schooner Gulch State Beach, visitors can access the site via a short hike across the bluffs and moderate scramble down a dirt path. Note: Low tide access only. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=446
#4 Big Iron Behemoths – Roots of Motive Power, Willits
Housing massive heaps of steel and an inside track on California’s rich logging history, Roots of Motive Power is the stop for a shot of big iron at its iconic best. In a stunning display of guts and girth, behemoths – including a classic 1885 Porter steam engine – stand ready for their close up in a symphony of steam. Take the Inspiration Highway (101) north to Willits for a full frontal view; visits are limited to key events and workdays (1st and 3rd Saturdays); the trains are also viewable from the street. www.rootsofmotivepower.com
#5 Jurassic Redwoods – Montgomery Woods State Reserve, Ukiah
Gain perspective with a Jurassic-style jaunt to Montgomery Woods State Reserve, one of California’s most magnificent virgin redwood groves. Step into nature’s cathedral for a mind-blowing mix of gigantic spires shooting high in the canopy, past flying buttresses and enormous treetops soaring more than 350 feet. The eye-popping fern forest, flush with a sea of giant green fronds reaching for the sky, taps the imagination. Enjoy a moderate hike then hit Orr Hot Springs next door for the ultimate soak. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=434
# 6 Bridge of Sighs – Russian Gulch State Park, Mendocino
Sword ferns, Mendocino paintbrush and a thundering blowhole, oh my! Located two miles north of the village of Mendocino, this is the ultimate prehistoric wonderland and ideal Instagram post. The three-mile Fern Canyon Trail skirts Russian River Creek, a 36-foot waterfall, swath of pristine beaches and a collapsed sea cave called the Devil’s Punchbowl. Set up a reflective shot under the Frederick W. Panhorst Bridge, an open-spanned deck arch bridge set on California State Highway 1, built in 1940. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=432
#7 Quintessential Camp Shot – Mendocino Grove, Mendocino
Everyone loves the quintessential camping shot, especially when the living is easy in Mendocino’s rock-n-roll redwoods. Set on 37acreswith expansive views of the sea, Mendocino Grove is the ideal Instagram postcard with 60 safari-style tents rife with picture perfect pups and a parallel Pinot Noir. Capture the essence of glamping with a Mendocino zeitgeist – colorful yogis in a group tree pose in the Meadow Common, cozy toes peeking out of a tent flap or the obligatory s’mores shot, heralding all that summer has to savor. www.mendocinogrove.com
#8 In the Out There File – Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree
Size matters. Soaring at 315 feet high with a girth of 21 feet, this 2,000-year-old towering tree is a definite show stopper. Cut in the late 1930s as a tourist attraction, the Chandelier Tree seems to defy nature, allowing autos a smooth passage through its center, albeit tight at times. Ideal for Instagram Live, a $5.00 fee gains entry through this gentle giant; there are also wonderful hiking trails in nearby Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area. www.drivethrutree.com
#9 The Big Kiss – B. Bryan Preserve, Point Arena
A Rothschild Giraffe kiss is worth a thousand shots! Secluded along Mendocino County’s south coast, B. Bryan Preserve is the stop for an escape to the African veldt. On tap for the perfect Instagram shot are an assortment of rare and endangered African hoofstock including Grevy’s Zebra (the largest of the breed and known to be most untamable), Greater Kudu (considered to be the most handsome of the tragelaphine antelopes) and stately Rothschild Giraffes – the tallest land animal on earth. Visitors can join the twice-daily tours to feed the animals and cash in on a kiss. www.bbryanpreserve.com
#10 View to Eternity – Elk Coastline
Mind altering and mood enhancing, the headland views from the tiny enclave of Elk speak to Old California, with scenic rock arches, stately sea stacks and views to Japan. A duet of awaiting chairs grace most of the local inns, putting that Mendocino escape into proper perspective. A short hike down to Greenwood State Beach delivers a day of play in complete solitude. Slip into a world-class sunset with a local Sauvignon Blanc in hand. www.elkweb.org
Mendocino County welcomes nearly 1.8 million visitors annually who explore its 90 miles of prime Pacific coastline, 90+ wineries and 10 diverse AVAs (earning the highest percentage of organic and biodynamic vineyards in the United States), 24 state/national parklands and 450+ unique accommodations.
Visit Mendocino, www.visitmendocino.com